FiOS TV is coming to Capital Region

Last week, the Scotia Village Board approved a cable TV franchise to Verizon, paving the way for the New York City-based telecommunications firm to provide TV service to the village.

The move, which would directly challenge Time Warner Cable and cable satellite companies, was unexpected since Verizon had previously indicated that it was not planning to offer TV in the region after bringing it to New York City, Buffalo and Syracuse.

Verizon now says that FiOS TV will be available in Scotia starting in early 2011 and that it will be seeking franchises in other local municipalities.

Verizon already has a lot of the fiber optic cable infrastructure already installed in the region. Communities like Bethlehem, Colonie, Schenectady and Guilderland already have FiOS phone and Internet services available. It has already installed fiber optic cable in Scotia as well.

The state Public Service Commission must also approve the franchise.

The village is in line to get 5 percent of Verizon’s gross revenue from its cable operations in the village.

Larry Rulison

33 Responses

I live in the Town of Colonie but not the village where FIOS TV will be available soon. My question is, if your community has FIOS internet available does that mean your area is “wired” to get the fiber optic FIOS TV? FIOS has indicated they are not laying down any new wires nationwide. How does one know if an area they live in has the neccesary wire structures in place for FIOS not “Direct TV” to be installed? In other words, in Latham or other places in the same rut locally, is it an legal issue(waiting for the town council to get off it’s duff and make an agreement with FIOS) or a technical issue?